Development of TaqMan probe-based real-time PCR method for erm(A),erm(B), and erm(C), rapid detection of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance genes, from clinical isolates.

To achieve more accurate and rapid detection of macrolidelincosamide- streptogramin B resistance genes, erm(A), erm(B), and erm(C), we developed a TaqMan probe-based real-time PCR (Q-PCR) method and compared it with conventional PCR (C-PCR), which is the most widely using erm gene identification method. The detection limit of Q-PCR was 5 fg of genomic DNA or 5-8 CFU of bacterial cells of Staphylococcus aureus. The utilization of Q-PCR might shorten the time to erm detection from 3-4 h to about 50 min. These data indicated that Q-PCR assay appears to be not only highly sensitive and specific, but also the most rapid diagnostic method. Therefore, the appropriate application of the Q-PCR assay will permit rapid and accurate identification of erm genes from clinical and other samples.

Dependency on Smartphone Use and Its Association with Anxiety in Korea.

OBJECTIVE: South Korea has the highest rate of smartphone ownership worldwide, which is a potential concern given that smartphone dependency may have deleterious effects on health. We investigated the relationship between smartphone dependency and anxiety. METHODS: Participants included 1,236 smartphone-using students (725 men and 511 women) from six universities in Suwon, South Korea. Participants completed measures of smartphone use, smartphone dependency, anxiety, and general characteristics (i.e., demographic, health-related, and socioeconomic characteristics). To measure smartphone dependency and anxiety, we used questionnaires of Yang's test developed from Young's Internet Addiction Test and Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. We used multiple logistic regression to determine the association between smartphone dependency and anxiety after adjusting for relevant factors. RESULTS: On a scale from 25 to 100, with higher scores on the smartphone dependency test indicating greater dependency, women were significantly more dependent on smartphones than were men (mean smartphone dependency score: 50.7 vs. 56.0 for men and women, respectively, p<0.001). However, the amount of time spent using smartphones and the purpose of smartphone use affected smartphone dependency in both men and women. Particularly, when daily use time increased, smartphone dependency showed an increasing trend. Compared with times of use <2 hours vs. ≥6 hours, men scored 46.2 and 56.0 on the smartphone dependency test, while women scored 48.0 and 60.4, respectively (p<0.001). Finally, for both men and women, increases in smartphone dependency were associated with increased anxiety scores. With each one-point increase in smartphone dependency score, the risk of abnormal anxiety in men and women increased by 10.1% and 9.2%, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Among this group of university students in South Korea, smartphone dependency appeared to be associated with increased anxiety. Standards for smartphone use might help prevent deleterious health effects.

A Phase II Study of Oxaliplatin Combined with 5-Fluorouracil and Leucovorin (Mayo Clinic Regimen) in 5-Fluorouracil Refractory Colorectal Cancer.

PURPOSE: There are few therapeutic options in patients with colorectal cancer that have progressed or recurred following 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) based therapy. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of oxaliplatin, 5-FU, leucovorin (Mayo clinic regimen) in 5-FU pretreated advanced colorectal cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METGODS: Twenty-eight patients were enrolled in this study between January 1999 and May 2001. Patients were treated with oxaliplatin 150 mg/m2 on day 1 as a 2-hr infusion and 5-FU 425 mg/m2, leucovorin 20 mg/m2, bolus for 5 days. Treatment courses were repeated in 4-week intervals. RESULTS: The objective response rate was 25% for 28 assessable patients, all cases registered a partial response. Eleven patients (39%) demonstrated stable disease, and ten (36%) progressed. The median response duration was 5.5 months, and the median time to progression was 6.3 months. The median overall survival time was 13.5 months from the start of the chemotherapy. From the 120 cycles analyzed, grade 3,4 hematologic toxicities included neutropenia: 1.6%, and thrombocytopenia: 1.6%. The frequent grade 3.4 non-hematologic adverse reactions were nausea/vomiting (25.0%), diarrhea (14.3%), stomititis (3.6%), and neuropathy (3.6%). There were no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION: This phase II study had relatively higher toxicity than previous studies, and did not show an increased significant response rate. These high levels of toxicity suggest that the study treatment combination of oxaliplatin with a full dose Mayo clinic regimen arm is no feasible. Therefore, this regimen will be discontinued and a safer regimen will be adopted.